Japan, Venezuela and World Baseball Classic
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The Shohei Ohtani-led Japan squad attempts to punch their ticket to the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
The champs are out at the World Baseball Classic. This was Venezuela's night. Venezuela took down Japan, the 2023 WBC champions, with an 8-5 come-from-behind win in the quarterfinals at loanDepot park on Saturday night.
Shohei Ohtani walked off the infield after Japan’s World Baseball Classic ended, just like three years ago, only the final out could not have been more different.
Ohtani hit a first-inning home run but also struck out twice and had the game-ending flyout in Japan’s quarterfinal loss to Venezuela.
Venezuela manager Omar López announced that Ranger Suarez will start Friday's quarterfinal matchup against Japan, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. The Yakyu Cosmopolitan reported that Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to start for Japan.
Aaron Judge and Team USA squad found a way to close out Canada and have now booked a spot in the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Next up? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Dominican Republic in what should be an electric atmosphere in Miami.